Improvement in sliding sockets for scythe-snaths



E. L. HINMAN. Sliding-Socket for Scythe-Snath.

No. 212,223. Patented Feb. 11,1879.

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Jiorney Wings 5 UNITED STATES EDWARD L. HINMAN,

PATENT FFIE.

OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,223, dated February 11, 1879 application filed November 15, 1878.

To all whom it mag/concern Be it known that I, EDWARD L. HINMAN, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliding Sockets for Scythe-Snaths, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to an improved combination of devices by means of which a scythe can be attached to a snath in such a manner as to render it capable of being adj ;ted to various positions to suit the operator, or as circumstances may require, with its point closer to or farther away from the snath, and securely held in any position to which it may be adjusted.

Various devices have been used for effecting the adjustment of scythe-blades, such as an under plate on the snath, prbvided with a series of holes, in either of which the shank-toe may be placed; an under plate having a transverse slot, back and forth in which the shank -toe can be moved by adj Listing-screw arranged on each side of it; a swinging plate having a hole for the shanktoe, and adapted for adjustment to different positions by divers means; and also a sliding plate provided with holes for the shank-toe and arranged in an oblique seat cut in the snath, and being secured in various positions in said seat by a bolt passing through it and the snath. The last-named arrangement resulted in the weakening of the snath by the cutting of the inclined seat, and said sea-t, being directly in the wood, soon becomes worn and unserviceable 5 and even when the implement is new the swelling of the wood by moisture renders the plate difficult to move, and, again, when dry it will shrink and the plate will be loose. The other means mentioned are either objectionably complicated, or, as "in the first case, do not afford the de sired range of adjustment.

My invention is designed to overcome the objections to the heretofore-used means for providing for the adjustment of scythes, and to furnish a neat, reliable, easily-operated device, giving the scythe an extensive range -of adjustment, and holding it securely at any desired angle with reference to the snath.

To this end it consists in a casting adapted to surround the end or heel of a snath, and

provided with the plate formed therewith and having the transverse guide, in which slides the adjustable plate, having openings to receive the toe of a scythe, all as hereinafter more particularly described. y

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a snath having my improved adjusting device. Fig. 2 is a view of the under side of the snath, showing a scythe-blade secured thereto by my improved attachment.

The letter A indicates a metallic plate, in the present instance form in g a continuation of the ferrule or ring B on the heel of the snath E. This plate is secured to a chamfered portion of the under side of the snath by suita ble means, and is provided with a transverse depressed seat or guideway, 0, open at each end. In this seat orguideway is fitted a rectangular plate, D, adapted to slide therein from one end to the other. This plate D has in it two holes, d d, adapted to receive the toe of a scythe-tang, and has also cut through it a transverse'slot, 0, through which passes a bolt, I extending through a hole in the under plate, A, and also through the snath E, the projecting end of said bolt being provided 'with a suitable nut, f. The portion of the plate D through which the slot 0 is cut is slightly elevated, and forms projecting walls somewhat curved or inclined on their outer faces, and the head of the bolt F is oblong in shape and concam on its under surface, to fit over and snugly upon these curved walls. The letter G, Fig. 2, indicates the tang of the scythe, said tang having its toe g inserted in one of the holes 01 of plate D.

As shown in full lines, the plate D is so adjusted that the point of the scythe is at the farthest limit of its adjustment from the snath, while in dotted lines it is shown at the extremity of its adjustment in the opposite directionthat is,closest to the snath. In order to change the scythe from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, or to any intermediate position, it is only necessary to loosen the nut f of bolt F and the nut h of the eyebolt H, slide the plate D to the desired position, and then tighten the nuts again to hold it there. In order to increase the range of adjustment of the blade either way beyond the limit of movement of plate D, the toe of the tang may be inserted in either of the holes d 01 of the plates, as required. The eyebolt H, for clamping the tang of the scythe, is of the kind in ordinary use, and should be wide enough, of course, to permit the adjustment of the tang.

The parts of my invention being made entirely of metal, it is obvious that the slide D will always move smoothly in its seat or guide way; and the plate A may be readily fitted to any ordinary snath by simply boring a hole for the bolt F, as snaths are usually ehamfered to receive a web or plate projecting from the ferrule or tang.

What I claim as my invention is- A casting adapted to surround the end or heel of a snath, and provided with the plate, formed therewith and having the transverse guide, in which slides the adj ustable plate, having openings to receive the toe of a scythetang, substantially as described.

- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

E. L. HINMAN.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NoRRIs, J AS. A. RUTHERFORD. 

